Cost of Living Comparison Between Moscow and Shakhty Cost of Living Comparison Between Moscow and Shakhty

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,649 per month in Moscow vs $954 in Shakhty, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,609 per month in Moscow vs $1,471 in Shakhty, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,569 per month in Moscow vs $1,988 in Shakhty, rent included.

Moscow costs about 73% more than Shakhty, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Moscow sits 23% above the global median, while Shakhty is 29% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.58 ₽944

$9.33 ₽700

34.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$56.9 ₽4,272

$37.47 ₽2,812

51.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.39 ₽479

$5.83 ₽437

9.61%

Cappuccino

$3.30 ₽248

$2.36 ₽177

39.83%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 ₽103

$1.13 ₽84.9

22.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.62 ₽46.89

$0.52 ₽38.68

19.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.45 ₽334

$1.38 ₽103

222.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.31 ₽323

$2.58 ₽193

67.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 ₽101

$1.12 ₽83.9

20.54%

White Bread (500g)

$0.82 ₽61.6

$0.71 ₽53.2

15.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 ₽133

$1.43 ₽108

23.78%

Eggs

$1.93 ₽145

$1.80 ₽135

7.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.95 ₽971

$10.78 ₽809

20.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.86 ₽440

$4.78 ₽359

22.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.32 ₽925

$8.71 ₽654

41.45%

Apples (1kg)

$1.90 ₽142

$1.82 ₽137

4.40%

Banana (1kg)

$2.11 ₽158

$1.81 ₽136

16.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.35 ₽177

$1.90 ₽143

23.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.98 ₽298

$2.79 ₽209

42.65%

Potato (1kg)

$0.99 ₽74.4

$0.78 ₽58.6

26.92%

Onion (1kg)

$0.83 ₽62.4

$0.67 ₽50.4

23.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.72 ₽129

$1.41 ₽106

21.99%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 ₽56.2

$0.71 ₽52.9

5.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.15 ₽236

$2.96 ₽222

6.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.81 ₽811

$8.28 ₽621

30.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 ₽84.9

$0.99 ₽74.5

14.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 ₽177

$1.94 ₽146

21.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 ₽64.2

$0.54 ₽40.16

59.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.35 ₽2,877

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.52 ₽189

$1.89 ₽142

33.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 ₽32.88

$0.33 ₽24.54

33.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.22 ₽617

$6.44 ₽483

27.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 ₽60.3

$0.72 ₽54.1

11.11%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$38.6K ₽2.9M

$34.3K ₽2.6M

12.75%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$37.3K ₽2.8M

$35.8K ₽2.7M

4.25%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$153 ₽11.4K

$111 ₽8,311

37.75%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$7.97 ₽598

$5.97 ₽448

33.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.90 ₽593

$7.67 ₽575

3.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.94 ₽3,598

$35.98 ₽2,700

33.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.18 ₽2,640

Cinema Ticket

$6.22 ₽466

$4.96 ₽372

25.40%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$685 ₽51.4K

$323 ₽24.2K

112.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ₽1.1M

$6,945 ₽521.2K

115.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$85.9 ₽6,447

$70.3 ₽5,275

22.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.5 ₽3,937

$45.28 ₽3,398

15.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$132 ₽9,916

$114 ₽8,550

15.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$164 ₽12.3K

$109 ₽8,154

50.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,299 ₽97.5K

$452 ₽33.9K

187.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$760 ₽57.1K

$306 ₽23.0K

148.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,982 ₽223.8K

$759 ₽57.0K

292.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,427 ₽107.1K

$502 ₽37.7K

184.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$11.7K ₽876.6K

$2,111 ₽158.4K

453.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,863 ₽365.0K

$1,639 ₽123.0K

196.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,845 ₽138.5K

$403 ₽30.2K

358.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

24.39

15.33

59.10%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Moscow: April 21, 2026

Last update for Shakhty: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,299 in Moscow versus $452 in Shakhty. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 358% higher in Moscow, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $57 in Moscow versus $37 in Shakhty. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $245 vs $198 – making Shakhty the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Moscow vs Shakhty: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Moscow costs about 73% more than Shakhty, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,473 per month in Moscow and $1,431 in Shakhty. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Shakhty, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $57.0 in Moscow and $37.00 in Shakhty. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 24% more in Moscow, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Shakhty, where all-in costs run around $954, than in Moscow at $1,649. In Shakhty it covers expenses comfortably, while in Moscow it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Shakhty costs $954 versus $1,649 in Moscow. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Shakhty. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Moscow makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.